Buffalo pizza is a pizza that contains buffalo chicken as the main topping. Buffalo chicken is chicken that has been coated in a cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter, giving it a spicy and tangy flavor. The origins of buffalo chicken pizza can be traced back to Buffalo, New York, where buffalo chicken wings were invented. Pizza makers started experimenting by putting buffalo chicken on pizza, and the buffalo chicken pizza was born.
Typical Ingredients
While ingredients can vary depending on the pizza restaurant, most buffalo chicken pizzas contain the following:
- Pizza dough – The thick or thin pizza crust.
- Pizza sauce – Tomato-based sauce or sometimes ranch dressing is used instead.
- Mozzarella cheese – Grated mozzarella provides the classic pizza cheese.
- Buffalo chicken – Shredded chicken coated in buffalo wing sauce.
- Blue cheese crumbles – Blue cheese gives it more buffalo flavor.
Some additional toppings that may be added include:
- Red onion
- Celery
- Bell peppers
- Jalapenos for extra spice
Steps to Make Buffalo Chicken Pizza
To make buffalo chicken pizza at home, follow these steps:
- Start by baking or buying a prepared pizza crust.
- Spread pizza sauce evenly over the crust, leaving about 1/2 inch around the edges.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
- Add shredded buffalo chicken on top of the cheese.
- Top with any additional toppings like onions or peppers.
- Bake pizza in a 425°F oven for 12-15 minutes until the crust is browned and cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven, drizzle with ranch dressing, and sprinkle with chopped celery.
- Slice and serve immediately while hot.
Making the Buffalo Chicken
The key to great buffalo chicken pizza is properly prepared buffalo chicken. Here is one method:
- Cut chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes.
- Toss chicken in a mixture of hot sauce and melted butter.
- Bake chicken at 400°F for 20 minutes, until cooked through.
- Shred chicken using two forks.
- Mix in more hot sauce to fully coat chicken.
For extra buffalo flavor, the Frank’s RedHot brand of hot sauce is recommended. Use a 2:1 ratio of hot sauce to butter. The chicken can also be fried instead of baked for crispy buffalo chicken bites on the pizza.
Choosing Pizza Toppings
When it comes to buffalo chicken pizza toppings, anything goes! Here are some popular topping combinations:
| Topping Combination | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| The Classic | Buffalo Chicken, Mozzarella, Blue Cheese Crumbles |
| The Veggie | Buffalo Chicken, Red Onions, Celery, Cherry Tomatoes |
| The Spicy | Buffalo Chicken, Pepper Jack Cheese, Banana Peppers, Jalapenos |
| The Ranch | Buffalo Chicken, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Ranch Dressing |
Get creative and make your own custom buffalo chicken pizza combination!
Buffalo Pizza Sauce Options
While tomato-based pizza sauce is most common, there are other tasty sauce options for buffalo chicken pizza:
- Ranch: Cool, creamy ranch pairs great with spicy buffalo chicken.
- BBQ Sauce: Sweet and tangy BBQ is a popular alternative.
- Alfredo: For a rich, creamy white pizza sauce.
- Pesto: Nutty basil pesto makes a delicious base.
- Hot Sauce: Franks RedHot or other hot sauce can be used in place of pizza sauce.
Ranch Sauce Recipe
To make homemade ranch sauce for buffalo pizza:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Whisk together all ingredients until thoroughly combined. Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use. Spread or drizzle over pizza crust before adding toppings.
Types of Cheese
The cheese you top your buffalo pizza with is important for flavor. Here are some cheese options to consider:
- Mozzarella – The classic pizza cheese, mozzarella gives a tasty, melty base.
- Provolone – Similar to mozzarella but with a sharper, tangier flavor.
- Blue Cheese – The classic partner for buffalo chicken wings, crumbled blue cheese pairs perfectly.
- Cheddar – Yellow cheddar or white cheddar add a sharper flavor.
- Pepper Jack – Spicy pepper jack cheese enhances the heat.
For best results, use a combination of cheeses. Mozzarella paired with provolone, cheddar or blue cheese is recommended.
Melting Cheese Tip
To help ensure an ooey-gooey melted cheese topping, try shredding the cheese yourself instead of buying pre-shredded cheese. The starch coating on pre-shredded cheese prevents melting. Shredded cheese melts much smoother.
Crust Options
Buffalo chicken pizza works well with any type of pizza crust:
- Thin crust – Crispy and cracker-like, thin crust gives great texture contrast to saucy buffalo chicken.
- Thick crust – A soft and chewy deep-dish style crust can hold up to hefty pizza toppings.
- Stuffed crust – Stuffing cheese into the outer edge of the crust takes it over the top.
- Cauliflower crust – For a low-carb option, cauliflower crust is tasty and gluten-free.
Hand tossed, pan style, or even flatbread can all make excellent bases for buffalo chicken pizza. Choose your favorite crust or get creative and try a new one!
Homemade Pizza Dough
For fresh, homemade pizza crust, this basic pizza dough recipe is easy and delicious:
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 1⁄2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy. Mix in flour, salt and olive oil until a sticky dough forms. Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour. Punch down dough, shape into crust and top with buffalo chicken ingredients!
Recommended Side Dishes
To make it a complete buffalo-inspired meal, pair your pizza with these tasty side dishes:
- Buffalo chicken wings – The classic complement to buffalo chicken pizza.
- Celery sticks – Cool, crisp celery helps offset the spice.
- Bleu cheese dressing – For dipping crust and wings.
- Ranch dressing – A must for buffalo pizza lovers.
- Coleslaw – Creamy cabbage slaw with a touch of vinegar.
- Potato wedges – Crispy potatoes are a perfect match.
Conclusion
Buffalo chicken pizza is a fun twist on a classic that packs some heat. Topping a pizza with shredded buffalo chicken, mozzarella, blue cheese, and hot sauce results in a delicious, spicy pie. The keys are making sure the buffalo chicken is cooked properly and tossed in sauce to fully infuse it with flavor. Pair it with ranch or blue cheese dressing and crunchy celery on the side for the full experience. Buffalo pizza also works well with a variety of toppings and crust styles. So next time you make pizza at home or order one from your local pizzeria, give buffalo chicken pizza a try!